Neil Young in Hyde Park - any forumites go?
Posted by: Kevin-W on 28 June 2009
Did anyone else go to this last night?
I did (managed to get near to the front, dead centre) and I thought it was not only the best NY gig I've ever seen but the best gig full stop that I've been to in yonks. I'd heard that Shakey's Glasto set on Friday night was a stunner, so we were expecting great things, but what we got was even better.
He was amazing - a great choice of songs (everything from Cinammon Girl and Old Man through to Hey Hey My My and Rockin' In The Free World); one of the passionate, committed and engaged performances I've ever seen (he was literally attacking his guitar and was constantly having to change it because the strings kept breaking); a superb backing band; Even better, his voice is sounding magnificent at the moment.
Every song of the 2hr 15min set was a killer but the highlights for me were a magnificently grungy "Fukcin' Up"; a very extended (15 minutes) "Down By the River"; and a superb, delicate and nuanced "Old Man" (the sound was crystal clear throughout the concert). However, it was the way the concert opened and closed that provided the acme of a night of superlatives.
NY began with an awe-inspiring "Hey Hey My My" and ended with an epic, feedback-riven cover of "A Day In The Life" during which he was joined, to the surprise and delight of the crowd, by none of than Sir Macca himself.
Of the support acts, Ben Harper and Fleet Foxes were abysmal, while Seasick Steve outstayed his welcome - only the Pretenders offered anything near quality entertainment; NY put all of them to shame.
Does anybody know how many people were there? The crowd looked vast - 70,000 people maybe?
I did (managed to get near to the front, dead centre) and I thought it was not only the best NY gig I've ever seen but the best gig full stop that I've been to in yonks. I'd heard that Shakey's Glasto set on Friday night was a stunner, so we were expecting great things, but what we got was even better.
He was amazing - a great choice of songs (everything from Cinammon Girl and Old Man through to Hey Hey My My and Rockin' In The Free World); one of the passionate, committed and engaged performances I've ever seen (he was literally attacking his guitar and was constantly having to change it because the strings kept breaking); a superb backing band; Even better, his voice is sounding magnificent at the moment.
Every song of the 2hr 15min set was a killer but the highlights for me were a magnificently grungy "Fukcin' Up"; a very extended (15 minutes) "Down By the River"; and a superb, delicate and nuanced "Old Man" (the sound was crystal clear throughout the concert). However, it was the way the concert opened and closed that provided the acme of a night of superlatives.
NY began with an awe-inspiring "Hey Hey My My" and ended with an epic, feedback-riven cover of "A Day In The Life" during which he was joined, to the surprise and delight of the crowd, by none of than Sir Macca himself.
Of the support acts, Ben Harper and Fleet Foxes were abysmal, while Seasick Steve outstayed his welcome - only the Pretenders offered anything near quality entertainment; NY put all of them to shame.
Does anybody know how many people were there? The crowd looked vast - 70,000 people maybe?
Hi Ian
I remember the flag - you were about 15 yards in front of us!
I remember the flag - you were about 15 yards in front of us!
I love the fleet foxes usually, but i actaully thought that they were rather dull, though it was quite cool to see them close up (i was right at the front 
But NY was just amazing. Unknown legend and heart of gold were highlights for me.
Ben harper was shockingly boring!
But NY was just amazing. Unknown legend and heart of gold were highlights for me.Ben harper was shockingly boring!